Dutchess House, Millerton, N.Y. The house was built with insulated concrete forms (ICFs).

Dutchess House, Millerton, N.Y. The house was built with insulated concrete forms (ICFs).

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Environmentally friendly houses around the world

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Before you dismiss the idea of living in a shipping container, have a look at El Tiemblo House.

Located in a town outside Madrid, the house is composed of four recycled steel shipping containers that can be easily customized. And it’s quite sharp-looking, its pleasing cobalt blue walls surrounded by a verdant landscape.

The house is just one of the gorgeous homes featured in “150 Best Sustainable House Ideas” (HarperDesign; $29.99). The author, Francesc Zamora Mola, is a former San Francisco architect who now lives in Barcelona.

“The effort to maximize sustainability does not end when a building is complete,” writes Mola. “Humans need to see a sustainable building as a living structure that is part of a larger good, and encourage their communities to be environmentally conscious.”